LHR .. it's the Fuzz
 

Went to LHR last Tuesday (22 Sep) to collect my parents off an Eva Air flight from BKK at T3. First of all LHR had no info on the flight on their website, which was a bit disconcerting to say the least. Fortunately the Eva Air flight confirmed that it was on schedule, but when I questioned BAA staff, I got the usual non-apology, blame it on the airline attitude.
Anyway - when the plane landed and "docked" at the airbridge, nobody was allowed off for about 10 minutes. Eventually the reason was revealed: 5 Policemen boarded the plane and removed a passenger from "economy" (cattle class) for questioning. He had been "unescorted" on the flight, wonder if he was expecting a special welcoming when the plane landed.
Is this a usual event, to keep all passengers on board for so long whilst The Law boards? Anyone got any info on this event?

Cant comment on specific event but I've been on board twice when Police turned up - both times took about 10 to 15 minutes or so. 2nd occasion a few months back in biz class a father of 2 small kids had asked a couple of drunks to stop swearing one of whom promptly attacked him. CC did an outstanding job restraining the attacker given just how vicious he was. First time another fight apparently in economy and about 5 taken off first for questioning.
Sadly one can never be sure they've escaped the neanderthals out there

No specific info on this event, but the same happened on a recent flight I was on.

It was Emirates BKK - DXB - LHR, with the officers boarding at LHR.

Once at gate, an announcement was made requesting that ALL economy passengers remain seated, enforced by the well trained Cabin Crew.

My guess was that this was so the officers were unimpeded by the normal bag grabbing meelee that normally ensues on landing and the fact the "arrestee" is in a known seat number, so they knew exactly where to go upon boarding the plane.

Took only a matter of minutes and we were then given the go-ahead to disembark.

Edited to correct Airport code - apologies for upsetting you "forget".:\

Bangkok - Dublin - Heathrow. Why do people use these abbreviations. :ugh:

It's standard practice to keep pax seated if the police or other authorities are known to be meeting the aircraft. It means they can get on and do their job as quickly as possible, and prevents the person/people they have come to meet from escaping in the rush of disembarking pax!

Forget - these abbreviations are the standard IATA 3 letter codes for the airports... this is an aviation forum!

Oh dear oh dear. What more proof is needed. :rolleyes:

DUB Dublin. DXB Dubai. If you don't know the code then don't guess.

Forget,

It was actually a typo because I had recently been to Dublin (DUB) and for some reason it had stuck in my mind.....

Apologies again!!!

Theviewdownhere

That's alright. :) You're not the first to get caught out with DUB, typo or not. DXB must curse that DUB was there first.

If there has been an incident on board which turns into a Police matter, the Police might want to see if there are any volunteers that are willing to act as a witness. If there are any volunteers then they will be taken to one side before everyone gets off and details etc will be taken.

Guessing airport codes is highly dangerous.

One of my old employees sent a woman to LOS instead of LAX. Now they may both be pretty nasty places but LOS is a damn sight worse.

And then there was the mixup between Bayreuth and Beirut. (Bring your own AK47)

And Oakland and Auckland

Airfield codes
 

Not to mention Kristiansand and Kristiansund, embarissingly far apart from each other in the same country........

And the famous case of an Internet booking to Sidney, Montana (SDY) instead of Kingsford Smith (SYD). :uhoh: